Archive - Mar 25, 2011

March 25, 2011

Wesley L. Smith, 25, a Columbia City native, died Thursday, March 24, 2011.
He was born Nov. 27, 1985 in Fort Wayne, a son of Duane A. and Diana E. (Clark) Smith. His formative years were spent in rural Columbia City. He graduated from Columbia City High School in 2004.
He joined the United States Army where he served in Iraq, Indianapolis and most recently El Paso, Texas.
On Feb. 26, 2010 he was united in marriage to Caroline M. Cripe.
In January, he began his employment at Micropulse.

March 25, 2011

Geraldine âJeriâ Robinette, 87, of Columbia City, died early Wednesday morning, March 23, 2011 in Naples, Fla.
She was born June 24, 1923 in Wabash County, a daughter of George W. and Marie (Grimm) Garrison. At the age of six, her family moved to Huntington County. She graduated from Bippus High School. In 1942 she moved to Fort Wayne.
On June 22, 1946 she was united in marriage to Joe A. Auker. They made their home in South Whitley. Dr. Auker died Feb. 1, 1979.
She assisted her husband in the operations of J.A. Auker Veterinary Hospital for nearly 30 years.

March 25, 2011

By

Linda Hoskins

CHURUBUSCO â Losing a child has been described as the worst kind of loss anyone could possibly go though, a searing and unspeakable pain.
For two Churubusco-area families, July 16, 2009 will be a day never forgotten. It was that day that Andrew C. (âAndyâ) Spencer, 17, and Megan Christine Young, 16, died from results of a one-vehicle accident in rural Whitley County. The young couple had just eaten lunch and were heading to Meganâs house for a swim before her volleyball practice.
Unfortunately, the dayâs scheduled events were never completed.

March 25, 2011

COLUMBIA CITY â Columbia City Mayor Jim Fleck is calling on his townâs department heads to come up with ways to help reduce âpain at the pump.â
The mayor said earlier this week at the regular meeting of the Columbia City Common Council, and reiterated on Friday to the Board of Works and Safety, there is seemingly no end in sight to elevating gas prices.
âWe do have a need to create a plan within your department,â Fleck told the townâs department heads Friday morning.
Fleck said he realizes a âone size fits allâ approach will not work.

March 25, 2011

COLUMBIA CITY â Columbia City Mayor Jim Fleck addressed the townâs Common Council on Tuesday and warned the five-person panel that the city could see another financial hit coming in the next year or more.
Fleck reported at the tail end of the boardâs regular session that heâd attended a conference with other Indiana mayors and received word regarding an âover-distributionâ to local governments across the state of about $660 million.
âIn effect, they (the state of Indiana) gave us a loan. Itâs not anybodyâs fault,â Fleck said, âit's the fault of the system and the recession.â

March 25, 2011

There is one thing that comes up almost daily around Whitko boys track and field.
Repeat.
Not just any repeat but a fourth consecutive Three Rivers Conference championship.
Itâs a broken record that the Wildcats hopes stays that way for another season.
âOne of the things weâre hoping to do is make it four in a row,â Whitko head coach Ron Cherry said. âThatâs our goal that the kids say almost daily. We get together and they yell âfour-peat.ââ
For eight seniors, a conference title is all theyâve ever experienced. According to Cherry, the winning never gets old.

March 25, 2011

A lot of the time high school athletes are praised solely on what they do with a jersey on.
Earlier this week, two Columbia City Lady Eagles basketball players were recognized among the stateâs best for both their averages on the court and in the classroom.
Seniors Maddie Hinen and Corinna Raypole were selected by the IBCA (Indiana Basketball Coaches Association) as IBCA Academic All-State Honorable Mention members for the 2010-2011 season.

March 25, 2011

Thereâs a new face behind the desk at the Extension Office.
Lisa Schrader is replacing Kay Walter as 4-H secretary, on her own beginning Monday as last Friday was Walterâs last day.
âIâm off to a good start,â Schrader said. âIâm trying not to get too worked up about things.â
She comes with a good deal of experience having worked in human resources as an administrative assistant at Guardian Automotive in Ligonier, and six years as a receptionist. Since then, she has been a stay-at-home mom for her two daughters Abbigail, age seven, and Molly, five.

March 25, 2011

Helen J. Heinley, 94, of rural Columbia City died at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at The Oaks, Columbia City where she had been a resident since August 2010.
She was born Oct. 27, 1916 in Thorncreek Township, a daughter of the late Jesse and Florence (Miller) Jackson. Her formative years were spent in Thorncreek Township. She graduated from Washington Center High School and then International Business College, Fort Wayne.
Following her graduation, she took a job with a stock brokerage firm in Fort Wayne.